110 LIFE OF DA VID LI V1NGSTONE, LL.D. 



Sekeletu. A marvellous evidence truly of the moral influence of England, 

 even when only represented by one resolute man, on savage men who are 

 seldom amenable to anything save superior force ! The Mambari retreated to 

 the north, where several half-caste slave traders, under the leadership of a 

 half-caste Portuguese, had erected a stockade. Through the aid of the fire- 

 arms of the slave traders, Mpepe hoped to be able to make himself the head 

 of the Makololo ; while they, in the event of his being victorious, expected to 

 be rewarded by the captives he might make in the course of the struggle. 



Here and elsewhere the religious services were held in the Kotla, or public 

 meeting place, under the trees near the chief hut, and these were always well 

 attended. The meetings were called at Mabotsa and Kolobeng by the chief's 

 herald. As many as seven hundred frequently attended these meetings. At 

 Kolobeng, Sechele's wife frequently came in after service had begun, as if to 

 draw attention, not to her dress, but to her want of dress. Sechele, in great 

 displeasure, would send her out again to put on some clothing. As she retired 

 she pouted, and looked the very picture of feminine annoyance. If a woman 

 found that another woman was seated upon her dress, she would give her a 

 shove with her elbow, which the other would return with interest, until 

 several others would join in the fray, the men swearing at them all to enforce 

 silence. If a child cried, it was enough to set a great many of the audience 

 into a fit of laughter ; it seemed to them the perfection of a joke for a squalling 

 child to interrupt the grave and earnest missionary. 



Mpepe, determining to strike the first blow, had armed himself with a 

 battle-axe, avowing his intention of striking Sekeletu down on the occasion of 

 their first interview, trusting to his being exalted to his position as chief, 

 during the panic which would inevitably take possession of the Makololo 

 on his death. At Livingstone's request, Sekeletu accompanied him on a 

 journey, with a view of ascending the Leeambye, and when they had 

 got about sixty miles on their way they encountered Mpepe. At their 

 first interview Livingstone sat between them, and was thus unconsciously 

 the means of saving the life of Sekeletu. Some of Mpepe's friends having 

 informed Sekeletu of his murderous intentions, he despatched several of his 

 attendants to his hut, who, seizing him by the arms, led him about a mile 

 from the encampment, where they speared him. This summary settlement 

 of a grave political difficulty thoroughly established Sekeletu in his position, 

 and removed what could hardly have failed to become a serious hindrance to 

 the carrying out of Livingstone's cherished schemes. Mpepe's men fled to the 

 Barotse, a tribe living in the district Livingstone and Sekeletu were on their 

 way to visit; and they, considering it unadvisable to go there during the 

 commotion excited by that occurrence, returned to Linyanti for a month, 

 when they again set out for the purpose of ascending the river from 

 Sesheke. They were accompanied by a large number of attendants, who are 



